BMW Touring drag race: Alpina B3 vs M3 vs M340i vs M340d

Mat’s made a beeline for the Alpina B3 Touring today. Under the bonnet of this luxury-spec estate is the same basic 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine as you’ll find in the BMW M3, only it;s been tuned slightly differently to produce less power and more torque. As a result, you get 495hp and 730Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels via an eight speed automatic gearbox. It’s the heaviest car here at 1,955kg, and it’ll cost you £80,700.

Next up is the BMW M3 Touring, sporting the same 3.0-litre engine as the Alpina. Here it puts out 510hp and 650Nm of torque, and it’s paired to an eight speed automatic gearbox sending power to all four wheels. The M3 tips the scales at 1,865kg, and it costs from £86,570.

Moving on to the BMW M340i, a car which is also powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine. Unlike the first two cars, this is boosted by a lonely single turbocharger, meaning it has 374hp and 500Nm of torque. Still, it is a bit lighter at 1,795kg, and it’s a lot cheaper with a starting price of £61,580.

For the same money, you could also have the BMW M340d touring. This oil-burning estate car has a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with 340hp and a whopping 700Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels via the same eight-speed auto you get in the M340i. It is a bit heavier than the petrol-powered alternative though at 1,870kg.

So which of these ultimate daily drivers will come out on top? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.

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